There once was an intelligent, insightful, Californian writer called Naomi Wolf. Her seminal 90's book 'The Beauty Myth' took a long hard look at what beauty means to women and how women are mostly still obsessed with it, even if they are successful, educated, emancipated...
She once was quite popular and some people had heard of her! Now she's been replaced by Katie Price, Kate Moss and Tyra Banks.
Beauty is now virtually pornographic - the mean is pouty, tanned, semi-naked, accessible. All women fear ageing rather than look forward to the maturity and acceptance it brings. The skincare industry dominates women's magazines, even influencing editorial decisions. Models are around 20% skinnier than your average ordinary woman. And motherhood magazines have been glamorised - you even have to look sexy and pouty at 8 1/2 months or with a newborn in your arms. Have we bought into the beauty myth? Would we all feel more free and comfortable with ourselves is we could just be our own version of lovable?
Naomi Wolf's book is dated now, but it still has some interesting facts and figures. Why not order a copy or ask your library to stock it?
Why is this information on the Eco-Fitness blog? Because Eco-Fitness is not about getting skinny, or fitting into some popular stereotype. It is about being naturally healthy, just because it's a good thing to do. It's about living YOUR life and not someone's idea of what you should be. There's no impossible ideal to reach for. It's saying goodbye to the beauty myth and hello to sensible achievable health and fitness.
Unfortunately, Naomi Wolf has moved on although she does flaunt herself as a feminist when the pay is high enough she has embrassed the conspiracy theorists and now waves her flag for the fringe. What a pity
ReplyDeleteGreat post... a great message.
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